Summer Things

101 ways to while away your summer daze

If you don't want your summer to be a bummer then you should definitely read and follow our guide to the 101 (no less, no more) things to do this summer to the letter. Look, there are only 93 days in the summer, so you're really gonna have to try really, really hard to do all 101 of these things. Lucky for you that we're releasing this before summer actually begins on June 21. So, you have an extra 22 days to do all these things, which seems, frankly, totally unfair because that means you have 115 days to do 101 things.

1. Pick up your picnic at the park and see some art. The new Downtown Arts District is set to open sometime in June at the old Gasworks building right next to the new Confluence Park. Not only will there be artists working and galleries operating in the former Gasworks building, but there will also be a year-round farmers' market operating out of the building. So head down to the area just south of the Colorado Avenue Bridge on Cimino Drive and buy yourself a farm-fresh picnic, eat it in the park, and then go look at the art. Any questions? Call Phototroph Gallery at 442-6995. -- NB

2. Host a watermelon seed-spitting contest. Sure, watermelon is great when it's dripping pink puddles down your chin. More fun than eating it is seeing how far you can launch those peskery seeds. Grab some friends who aren't afraid of expectorating in public, draw a line in the dirt, and spit away! -- TM

Kathy Conarro

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3. Make a concert effort. Park concerts are free! (See summer music guide on page 82 or check our listings every week) The Pikes Peak Blues Community plays Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Acacia Park downtown. Check out their Web site at www.pikespeakblues.com. Jazz in the Parks moves around town: consult the KCME Arts Calendar for times and places. In Soda Springs Park in Manitou, the Little London Winds play almost every Monday night, the Fountain Creek Brass Band does Thursdays, and street musicians and performers get their groove on weekends. -- JNN

4. Let your jelly prance. Learn to belly dance. You've seen the fluid movements of belly dancers and always wanted to try. Now's the time to work this sensual, sexy dance into your summer fitness routine. A handful of teachers in the Colorado Springs area offer both group and private lessons with varying specialties ranging from Westernized Nightclub, Tribal, Veil, Ethno-Fusion, Finger Cymbals, Handheld Candles and much more. Visit www.shira.net/dir-us-coct.htm and scroll down until you get to Colorado Spring in the "Based in" field for teacher contact information. -- CSB

5. Sup with the gods. Grab a bottle of wine, some cheeses, breads and grapes. Head out to Garden of the Gods for a picnic at sunset with your significant lover. Sit and marvel as you and the rocks take on a romantic red glow. Try to wipe the clichs from your mind. You'll be someone's god for the day. -- WY

6. Hit them corners in them low-lows, girl. Roll down your windows, crank up the radio, and see and be seen in your car this summer. Or take your motor vehicle up to the Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb on June 26, or gather in Manitou Springs in Memorial Park on the Stocker's Summer Cruise Nights, where they show off vintage stock cars, 6-9 p.m. June 11, July 9, and Aug. 13. -- JNN

7. Spend an afternoon at the DMV. "Check out that mullet!" This is just one of many things you'll exclaim during a fun-filled and relaxing afternoon spent in the ber-comfort of molded plastic chairs at the Colorado Springs Department of Motor Vehicles. Sit back and enjoy the air-conditioning with all-you-can-ogle CNN, a never-ending parade of people to watch, and sweet, sweet snack machines. Make a game of counting the times the angry young professional irritably checks his watch, or guessing what behavior will cause the frazzled single mother to start hollering at her kids in tow. -- AR

8. Go to the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center and don't speak English. Being a tourist in your own back yard has never been so easy. "We have about 800,000 guests to the facility each year, and many of them don't speak English," says Bonnie Frum, director of operations at the Visitor Center (located at 1805 N. 30th St.). Saunter up to the information desk on the building's second floor and request a complimentary brochure in one of 10 languages (including Dutch). You can tag along on a guided nature walk, or take the free bus tour, but make sure to leave your clogs at home. --JK

9. Go Big Pants Bowling The beauty of bowling is that no matter how much your ball loves the gutters, it really doesn't matter. To enhance the game, go to the thrift shop of your choice and grab theme outfits. If you're already going out there willing to look like an idiot, jazz it up with a bridesmaid dress or ridiculously huge pants -- keeping them up is half the fun. -- KL

10. Collect your paycheck out in nature. If you're lucky enough to work from home but feel chained to your computer, invest in a laptop and move your office outside. Charge the battery at night and you'll awake to a mobile office and be able to soak in the warm Colorado sun. With cell phones, blackberries and the availability of wireless Internet, you may never have to work inside again. -- CSB

Bruce Elliott

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11. Hay, horse around! Take a guided trail ride through Garden of the Gods on horseback: Academy Riding Stables will put you in the saddle (633-5667). Or learn English riding and jumping at the Penrose Equestrian Center, which hosts various horsy events all year (520-7787); look in the Yellow Pages under "horse" for all things equine. -- JNN

12. Toast your roasty buns. Colorado is something of a hot springs heaven, so take a 30-minute drive south to either of two nearby hot springs: Desert Reef and The Well. Desert Reef (call for directions, 719/784-6134, and ask for L.J.) is a bathing suits optional spa, so leave your bathing suits and modesty at home, or don't. The Well (719/372-9250), less than a mile to the west down Highway 50 from Highway 115, is also bathing suits optional except for Tuesdays, Family Day, when suits are required. For $10-$15 you can bring a lunch, a good book and sunscreen and lounge around with a bunch of let-it-all-hang nudists. -- JKG

13. Survivor? I don't even know her! Get two teams together and set them some inane Survivor challenges. Have loser cards to create some tension -- e.g., a teammate has stolen your food, throw a tantrum and then do the next challenge with your hand tied behind your back. Clothing is compulsory for overweight middle-aged guys. -- WY

14. Write your own episodes of The OC. Fox Television's ridiculously entertaining, completely addictive and sort of, uh, intelligent teen soap opera, The OC, may be on summer hiatus, but that doesn't mean you can't write your own episodes and act them out with friends on Wednesday evenings. For example: Ryan: "Seth, Dude, I couldn't wipe this pouty look off my face with a can of Jasco and a barbecue brush." Seth: "It's OK, Ryan, being working class is even more degrading when you just knocked up a Latina from Chino and can't live in the pool house anymore." Ryan: "I like to beat people up." And so forth. -- NB

15. Slip-slidin' away. Build a Slip 'N Slide. In addition to its lovely alliterative qualities, the Slip 'N Slide is a water-efficient way of cooling off. Just get a large garbage bag (preferably of the lawn variety), cut it so it lies lengthwise and flat, and lay it down on the grass while your sprinklers on. Run at it, dive, and Slip 'N Slide baby! -- BLS

16. Enjoy a spring in summer. Get fit while sampling the healing waters from Manitou's famous Iron, Soda, and mineral springs. Bring a cup and meet a group at the town clock at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays for Manitou Springabout. You'll get a history lecture along with your funny-tasting H2O.(Call 685-5089.)

17. Make Borders and/or Barnes & Noble your living room. One of the best things about the ubiquity of chain stores is their lax loitering policies. Take Borders and Barnes & Noble, where plush couches and chairs invite you to read their books and magazines and fall asleep in air-conditioned comfort. Who says nothing's free? -- JD

18. Be a cad at Borders and/or Barnes & Noble. If you're gonna loiter in bookstores, why not take it up a notch and offer extemporaneous commentary? Stand by the sex section and grimace knowingly at the young man thumbing through The Joy of Sex. Mumble under your breath, "Pffft, done that. Done that. Done that." Then promptly walk away. If that's too confrontational, take said book and read it openly in the religion section. -- JD

19. Make a book pilgrimage. The Chinook Bookshop is dead; long live Chinook! Stay true to your love of independent booksellers by taking the trip to the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver (two locations, call 1-800-833-9327). If you still can't make it, at least visit their website www.tatteredcover.com. They'll ship with a smile and they've got great stock and an equally amazing staff to help you with all your bibliophilic needs. -- KL

20. Hot tub it at home. Rent a hot tub from Party Hot Tub Rentals (4825 Astrozon Blvd., 391-9457). Whether you want it for the weekend, the week or the month, they'll hook you up with a four-person tub, ready at 105 degrees in just over an hour. They supply chemicals, a cover and do all the setup -- you supply the location, the water source and the party people. Weekend rates (arrive Friday, disappear Monday) are $169.95 plus tax; seven-day rates are $199.95 plus tax; and if you're serious about a monthlong rental, just give them a call. -- CSB

21. Invade the downtown "party block" with a Dancing Panzer Division. There's really no better way to both enjoy and embarrass yourself than to overrun the downtown clubs with a group of pals who have no shame. Dance it up! Don't be afraid to do the worm and unnerve the puffed-up Chads who dance sans irony. Dance in the line to get into the club, dance while you're waiting to get drinks, dance in the restrooms and above all, dance on the dance floor. Be sure to shriek. Hit up Rum Bay (20 N. Tejon St.), Tequila's (25 N. Tejon St.) and the Ritz Grill (15 S. Tejon St.) in succession on a Friday or Saturday night, stopping only to mop off your sweaty, writhing bodies. Wooo! -- AR

23. Be a tourist in your hometown. Ride the Cog Railway. Call 685-5401 for reservations. Rates range from $26 to $27/adults and $14.50 to $15/children. Visit the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Call 685-5242 for more information. Admission is $8/adults, $6/children 7-11, $7/seniors. Explore Cave of the Winds. Three different tours are available from 45 minutes to 4 hours. Call 685-5444. Admission ranges from $15 to $80/adults and $8 to $9/children. Cross the Royal Gorge. Call 719/275-7507 for more information. Admission is $19/adult and $15/children with the second ticket half price. Many of the attractions' Web sites have discount coupons available. -- CSB

24. Share an ice-cream cone with your dog. It's a perfect way to lick the heat and bond with your best friend. Just make sure you don't order chocolate -- which can poison them -- and remember that enthusiastic licking can land the scoop on the ground. In that case, it's likely your pooch won't share. -- GTS

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25. Bob for grapes. You need four things to make this work: grapes, a Deep Rock water container, water and a complete absence of social priorities. --JK

26. Rock out. See some rocks older than the Rolling Stones. Just below the Fontanero Street parking lot (just west of Wood Avenue) in Monument Valley Park, there's a geologic column that shows rock layers that represent the ones under the Springs. Serious ancient history -- the oldest layer is Pikes Peak granite, dating back a billion years. Older than dirt. Almost. -- GTS

27. Sling your thing. Nothing beats a warm summer day in the shade like relaxing in a hammock with a tall glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade, organic of course. Hammocks come in all sizes and configurations, but if your yard is lacking two trees, consider getting one of those hammocks with a stand that you can place anywhere -- available for about $100 at corporate mega-cubes like Home Depot. -- JKG

28. Have a sausage party. Eat a bratwurst with grilled onions from the guy outside Home Depot. If tools galore aren't enough to get you to finally put the finishing touches on that project you've been working on since last summer, think of the sweet juicy bratwursts. You can think of it as a reward -- one re-caulking is definitely worth at least two trips. Even if you don't do the best job yourself, you can still sleep happy knowing that you have experienced the magic of those grilled onions. -- BLS

Sean Cayton

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29. Buff your inner history. Here's a great way to spend a scorching summer day: down in the ice-cool basement of a historic building leafing through a diary from the1860s. The Pioneers Museum (217 S. Tejon St.) has some wonderful items in its Starsmore Center for Local History, whether you're fascinated by Springs founder William Jackson Palmer or just like to peruse old photographs. Appointments are a must. Call 385-5990. -- TM

30. Be a dancing queen. Face it: gay clubs have better music. The next time you feel a deep need to shake your groove thang, head on over to the Hide 'N Seek (512 W. Colorado Ave., 634-9303) or the new Club Q (3430 N. Academy Blvd., 570-1-GAY). No matter what your gender preference is, boogieing is universal. -- KL

31. Milkshake Entitlement Day. The contemporary ice-cream cone is a consumer injustice on par with movie theater popcorn and baseball stadium beer. Not to name names, but certain local cream pushers are charging nearly $3 for a single scoop. They must be joshing! Or just playin' us for johns. At any rate, if you're going to drop that much, get a milkshake. It seems decadent but you get more for your buck, it doesn't melt on your hands, and you can make impressive sucking noises with the straw. -- JD

32. The no-destination road trip. Pack that car with a cooler of sodas and mixtapes and just drive. You end up in some of the coolest places when you have no idea where you're going. My suggestion is to stick to the two-lane highways and make sure you've got a pretty detailed Colorado road map, just in case. Hit up roadside markets and please pick me up some green chilies. Thanks. -- AR

33. Play tag with Thelma the otter. Although she has only three legs (she was attacked by a raptor in her former home), she can swim better than her fellow four-legged tank mates. Approach her tank at the Pueblo Zoo (3455 Nuckolls Ave.) and she'll chase you from window to window.

Sean Cayton

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-- GTS

34. Ambulate for art. Gallery-hop in Manitou and Colorado Springs on a Friday night. From downtown through Old Colorado City and into Manitou Springs, artists and sycophants are laying out and consuming cheap wine and hors d'oeuvres, which are always free. Hit the openings, or you'll be facing the stuff wineless and hungry. -- JNN

35. Take an alley tour of downtown. Give yourself a few hours some night to wander through the back alleys of the downtown business and residential districts. There're some real historical and cultural treasures back there that no one ever sees from the road: barns, carriage houses and servants' quarters from the Springs' halcyon days as a genteel Western outpost. My favorite route is the north-and-south-running alley between Weber and Wahsatch streets, which you can follow almost uninterrupted from Pikes Peak Avenue until Fontanero Street. -- AR

36. Write a chain letter. Round up a posse of pals, divide into pairs and see how many different chain restaurants you can eat at in one evening. Afterward, convene to assess them on the following criteria: "Weight of menu," "Weight of flair adornments sported by server," "Number of faux bric-a-brac on walls," "Most pretentious sentence of menu copy." Write up results and fax them to the Gazette newsroom. With any luck, you'll probably make front page of the Metro section. -- JD

37. Beauty and the feet. Expose your toes: Get a pedicure and instantly prepare your little piggies for summer sandals. If a pedicure has always sounded financially out of your league, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Dozens of local spas offer pedicure services by appointment ranging from $25 to $55, and the beauty colleges offer them for $15 and walk-ins are accepted. Grab a friend, take your mom or treat your boyfriend, as many places can do two pedicures or more at a time. -- CSB

38. Go on your own food odyssey. Head to the Greek Festival at Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church, 2215 Paseo Road, Saturday, July 10 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, July 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eat some gyros, shoot some ouzo, do the drunken sailor dance with your new friends. For more, call 634-4678. -- GTS

40. Make your own Microbrewery Expo. Why wait for the Microbrewery fest in the fall? Tasting the latest local brews can be a do-it-yourself experience. Just for starters, why not try the IPA at Phantom Canyon Brewing Co. at 2 E. Pikes Peak Ave., head over to The Warehouse at 25 W. Cimarron St. for a Sundance Hefeweizen, and top it off with Laughing Lab fresh off the tap at Bristol Brewing Company, 1647 S. Tejon St. -- TM

41. Wet your whistle. Freak by a creek or shiver in a river. We've got Rampart Reservoir, Fountain Creek, Ruxton Creek, the North and South Catamount, Lake George, and other watery bodies, guys. Fish, swim and enjoy the H2O where it's free. -- JNN

42. Heckle the Sky Sox and/or their foes. Sky Sox stadium is as relaxing a place to spend a summer night as any the Springs has to offer. Part of the joy of live baseball, of course, is heckling the visiting team. Don't be a stranger, take yourself out to the ballgame. -- JD

43. The Happier Hour: drinking early. Despite being inundated with alcohol advertisements, there's still a stigma about getting your drink on early. If you have summer afternoons free, cozy up in a dark bar. Get uninterrupted service from your bartender and make him/her pretend to be your friend. (This can save you big-time on therapy.) Have the sauce cleared out well before bedtime, thus ensuring protection from gastrointestinal payback. -- JD

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44. Thanks a mat. One of the great gathering spots in Manitou Springs is a tea shop and restaurant called The Mat Factor, situated over Fountain Creek at the intersection of Manitou and Ruxton avenues. Featuring a South American green tea called yerba mat and operated by an intentional religious community called The Twelve Tribes, TMF invites residents and tourists alike to relax over an energizing yet not overly stimulating cup of hot or cold mat. It doesn't get much better than that! Call 685-3235. -- JKG

45. Row, row, row your boat. Colorado State Parks and their many lakes are open for business, but might not be if we have another flamethrower of a summer. So get out and paddle them lakes and creeks and fish away before you're up you know what without a huh? Go to www.parks.state.co.us/ for specifics. -- NB

46. Party with some stars. The Colorado Springs Astronomical Society hosts a monthly bash in the summer and you're invited. They'll bring their 'scopes and talk your ear off about what's up there. It happens the first Friday of the month in Bear Creek Park (on 21st Street and Rio Grande Street) Call 262-0698 or see our listings for details. -- GTS

47. Stare at bears. NocturnalManitou Springs' residents and visitors may find themselves face to face with a brown or black bear rummaging for food in the wee hours. From dusk to dawn, bears commonly roam neighborhoods in the foothills of Pikes Peak looking for tasty leftovers found in the garbage cans of businesses and residents. Viewing is best done from inside your home or motel room, with binoculars; although our furry friends are skittish and inclined to run when "discovered," it's best not to get too close! -- JKG

48. Make your television irrelevant, dude. The FOX network has launched a dastardly new scheme to make us consume their debaucheries, but it really is true that there won't be anything to watch anyway. So why not take advantage of the longer days? Go outside and introduce yourself to a neighbor. Take an early morning walk. Try a new recipe. Head up to the mountains. Or even just (gasp!) read a book. -- BLS

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49. Eat local produce from the Tres Rios organic food co-op. Crisp spinach, artichokes, perfect tomatoes, exotic onions and garlic, bratwurst, lamb, juice, and honey are just some of the offerings you might find in a food box from Tres Rios. The co-op consists of 10 organic farms from Colorado and New Mexico. Each week you could be the proud owner of a food box full of yummy food that didn't have to be flash-frozen. For more information, visit www.tresrioscoop.com. -- BLS

50. Cruising the boulevard ... Academy. Treat yourself to a late-night drive down Academy Boulevard. With the traffic down and the neon lights up, you can play fun games like holding your breath between Conocos or discovering five chain restaurants you'd never heard of. Plus, gawk at all the tricked out import cars and Suzuki rice rockets strutting around American Graffiti style. It's a fun place to visit, especially when you don't live there. -- JD

51. Be a 900-pound grilla. Summer is too hot to cook inside and cold sandwiches get real old after a couple weeks, so scrape the chunks of leftovers off your grill and get cooking. Kebab veggies and brush with an olive oil and herb mixture; marinate breasts in Italian dressing overnight for tender, moist chicken; buy high-quality steak and simply sprinkle with salt and pepper. Find your preference -- gas or charcoal -- and experiment. For easy-to-follow recipes and guidelines check out Weber's Big Book of Grilling, Biggest Book of Grilling or Grilling for Dummies and make this summer a gourmet grill fest. -- CSB

52. Name your tin racing horse! The kiddies love the idea of going to a completely awesome semi-outdoor arcade, but what about you and your needs? Ride on up to Manitou's Penny Arcade (900 block of Manitou Ave. in Manitou) and squeal wildly as you play everything from an Elton John-themed pinball machine to the latest in 3-D kill-'em-all technology. Hint: While playing the (tin) horses, it's advisable to name yours. Screaming "C'MON APPLE FRITTER!" works, I swear. -- KL

53. You must be kiddie. The bright colors and expressive animal characters adorning the plastic might make you think they're just for kids, but, really, isn't it time kids didn't get to have all the fun? So few things are cuter than tykes in tiny plastic pools, but you have to respect a full-grown adult relaxing in an outdoor tub. Besides, filling a 4-foot-diameter kiddie pool uses less water than a cold 15-minute shower and can be enjoyed for hours, or, if one is particularly brave, days. -- BLS

54. Why go outside when there are Internet friends to be had? Are you tired of seeing the same old people all the time? Wishing they'd stop asking you to "go out" and have a "good time"? Heck, eliminate outdoors altogether by logging onto www.friendster.com. Enjoy your new pallor, because spending all of your time writing to like-minded folk that you'll probably never meet is the new Dungeons & Dragons! -- KL

55. Bike it like you like it. Ride it at midnight for the Starlight Spectacular (June 19; call 385-7431) or do some serious mileage at the three-day Courage Classic in Leadville and at Copper Mountain (July 17-19; call 303/456-9704). Check out the windmills and wildlife in northeastern Colorado during the Windmill Classic (June 5; 800/354-8660). Too much trouble? Peddle down to the puddle of the former Prospect Lake and ride in circles. -- GTS

56. Wastin' away again in ... uh, Colorado Springs. Drink margaritas at Amanda's Fonda (3625 W. Colorado Ave., 227-1975) while the sun sets. Amanda's Fonda boasts an excellent view and free chips and succulent Baja-style salsa to whet your appetite while you wet your whistle. Their newly remodeled patio even has outdoor heaters so if those summer nights turn surprisingly chilly, you won't have only their seriously powerful margaritas to keep you warm. Or spend the night relaxing on the gorgeous patio with awsome views at Margarita at Pine Creek, just north of the Embassy Suites Hotel at 7350 Pine Creek Rd. -- BLS

57. Buy a sarsaparilla at the Rock Ledge Ranch General Store. What's the difference anyway -- between sarsaparilla and root beer? For under $2, you can discover for yourself that drinks with anachronistic names really do taste better. The general store is at 30th Street and Gateway Road, 578-6777. -- JK

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58. Body-movin', body body movin'. Most of us need to get rid of our winter pudge. But we're also, variously: busy, lazy, weak-willed little creatures. Take the work out of your workout by breaking a phat beat at the Downtown YMCA's Hip Hop Aerobics. Don't be shy call 471-9790 for more. -- KL

59. Yard sale bonanza! Go nuts rummaging through other peoples' belongings. Take a Saturday and do a grand tour of all the yard sales in town. It's like going to the flea market but more spread out! So what if you don't need a Hello Kitty lunch pail or a curio cabinet missing its glass windows; we all know from watching Antiques Roadshow that one little diamond in the rough could haul in some major bucks at an auction, right? -- TM

60. Crash the Broadmoor. Put on your strappy cocktail dress, go sit on the terrace among the beautiful people at 1 Lake Ave., sip a Perrier, nibble on the free nuts and pretend you're a guest at Colorado's only five-star resort. -- KCE

61. Have yourself a mighty wine time. Hire a minivan and a driver (so you can get safely snookered) with a bunch of friends and explore the region's vineyards. There's the always-useful wine trail map at www.thewineman.com/colorado.htm. If that sounds like too much driving, check out the patio at Wines of Colorado(open 10:30-8 p.m. at 8045 West Highway 24, 684-0900, www.coloradowine.com) where you can taste a range of local wines before you chow down on the best burgers in town. Then there's the Manitou Springs Wine Festival in Soda Springs Park from 1 to 6 p.m. on June 5 (685-5089). -- WY

Bruce Elliott

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62. Custard ain't just a colonel. Ice cream pounded out on a marble slab is soooo last year. Why not try something different for a frozen treat, like say, custard? Frozen custard can be found at the latest fast-food joint to invade the Springs from Denver, Good Times, at the intersection of Astrozon and Academy. -- TM

63. Watch hippos swim slow circles. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road) is pretty great, especially if you're coming from a flatland where the zoos are unimaginative, pavement-laden homes for animals that you would find in your back yard anyway. The Springs' zoo has exactly the opposite: cool animal habitats, interesting programs for the kids, and an amazing view. Call 636-2544 for more. -- KL

64. Explore your inner Vermeer "C'mon, my 5-year-old could make that!" All right, buddy, it's time to start puttin' your money where your mouth is. Check out the Bemis School of Art for plenty of summer art classes, including photography, drawing and all manners of painting. Call 475-2444 or go to www.csfineartscenter.org for more information. -- KL

65. Ass chillin' on the Platte. Take a leisurely float down the Platte in a tube. (Take Highway 24 west to Woodland Park, and then head north on Highway 67 to Deckers. Ask at the General Store for directions or follow the dirt road along the river and find a nice spot.) Don't forget, a six-pack of cans will float nicely (maybe) and stay chilled. Tie it on the tube, dude, lay back and take an effortless cruise. -- WY

66. Kiss random people. Discretion required. Some semblance of introductory discourse is recommended before subjecting complete strangers to your new hobby. Slaps on the face are par for the course, but who knows, you might just meet your new best friend. -- JK

Bruce Elliott

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67. Tiptoe through the juleps. If staunchly conservative politics and religious fervor that would make the Bible Belt proud doesn't already have you feeling like you live in the Deep South, here's a recipe that should cool your gullet. The most standard mint julep is made with: 4 fresh mint sprigs, 2 12 ounces bourbon, 1 teaspoon powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons water, and crushed ice. Mix mint leaves, powdered sugar and water in a Collins glass. Fill glass with crushed ice and add bourbon. Top with more ice and garnish with a mint sprig. Serve with a straw. -- TM

68. Mixmaster, mix faster. Summer parties and a cool cocktail go, well, cocktail in hand. If you typically serve up cold "brewskies," surprise the guests at your next bash with something colorful and mixed up. The all-time classic Mr. Boston's Official Bartender's and Party Guide is the must-have for self-education. However, for the more serious student, our local Bartending Academy (6551 N. Academy Blvd., 578-5777) offers flexible, 40-hour sessions where they'll teach you the art of mixology. They'll gladly show you around the school and even let you observe a class before you commit. When you leave this school, you'll easily be the life of your party, not to mention the life-skills you'll have gained for a future career in the food and beverage industry. -- CSB

69. Ask him/her already! Gay, straight, other? Legal niceties aside, who cares! So how long has it been: a year, three years? Enough already, buy a ring, book a ride in a hot-air balloon, spend a night in a romantic hotel in Manitou and pop the question. After all, according to NPR, satisfaction is a product of action. So, what are you waiting for? -- WY

70. Adopt some trash. Colorado's "Adopt a Highway" program has areas available for adoption on I-25 between Pueblo and Colorado Springs. Recruit some of your do-gooder friends and stake out the mile-markers in the area in which you are interested. Then head to the Colorado Department of Transportation Web site at www.dot.state.co.us/AdoptAHighway/ and submit your adoption application. There is no cost to you, just your groups' effort four times a year. CDOT will provide bags, safety vests and a safety meeting/video before your first cleanup day. Their maintenance crews will come by and pick up the filled bags and deliver them to the landfill. -- CSB

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71. Disarm your lifeguard. Head to the pool and tell a group of kids that you'll pay them a pack of Skittles for every 10 minutes they can keep up a noisy game of Marco Polo. Bring your own earplugs, soak in the sun, and make those guards earn their money. -- GTS

72. Let's get down to bidness. If eBay auctions just don't satisfy your deep-seated consumer need to rummage through the crap you'll likely hawk your home to possess, then why not feel the real deal. Every Monday beginning at 9 a.m., Ross Auction House at 109 S. Sierra Madre St. (under the Colorado Avenue Bridge) auctions everything from Linda Ronstadt records to oak pedestal tables in a fan-cooled warehouse perfect for fettering away a blazing summer day and your hard-earned cash. Call 632-6693. -- NB

73. Focus on their family. Time for a new direction? Keen to see what religion could do for you? Interested in starting your own nondenominational religious/political organization? Don't mock, it's a great money-spinner! Take a tour of Focus on the Family at 8685 Explorer Drive, and see what all those hard-earned donations have created. Open: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., www.family.org. -- WY

74. Praise the rising the Uncle Wilber Fountain. It can't help but bring a smile to your face, whether it's the pure silliness or you're writing a thesis on contemporary iconography. Kids love it, and it makes the downtown area that much more colorful. Come for the religious metaphors, stay for the free tuba-wailing water hoedown. Located on the corner of Bijou Street and Tejon Street, it rises hourly. -- KL

75. A river runs through it and a movie screen sits on it. Pueblo's Riverwalk in the heart of Pueblo just off I-25 is a swell little urban waterway with room for walking, paddle boating and fountain splashing for the wee nios. When you're done walking on water, head to The Mesa Drive-In,2620 Santa Fe Drive. (that's on the Highway 50 East business route from Interstate 25) and steam up your windows with a hot ... bag of popcorn. To find out what's playing, call 719/542-3345. -- NB

76. Be a pinko for a day. Take a 4-mile hike on the Rosa (Pink) Trail (across from the Rosemont reservoir parking on Mount Baldy Road). Not for the frail-of-heart nor those who are a bit wobbly on their pins. It's a great workout and you end up on the peak -- a perfect recovery spot with awesome views of the city. Directions are a wee bit complicated, so go to www.ghosttownsoftware.com/page67.htm. -- WY

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77. Get a neck cramp. Check out the In Their Honor Air Show at the old Colorado Springs Airport (at Fountain Boulevard and Aviation Way), July 10-11 to see some serious sky-riding and air-oriented acrobatics. Bring a lawn chair, earplugs and a cooler. Call 635-8803 for more info. -- GTS

79. Poach plants, not eggs! In a town as development happy as Colorado Springs, there's just bound to be a piece of earth near you that's about to be graded by those large yellow tractors to make way for some new tract homes. Not surprisingly, most of the drought-resistant plant life formerly inhabiting that piece of land probably won't be carefully relocated and replanted. That is, unless you do it yourself. Head out with a shovel, some plastic bags and poach yourself some plants that would die anyway and you can begin Xeriscaping your yard on the cheap. -- NB

80. Get wild ... no, seriously, wild! The Starsmore Discovery Center and the Beidleman Nature Center, along with the Colorado Springs Department of Wildlife, are hosting Wildlife Watch, a $15 per household workshop/field trip on June 19. Learn about creatures, master your outdoor skills, and explore their many other programs and offerings throughout the year (227-5207). -- JNN

Bruce Elliott

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81. Run through the sprinklers. Don't let water restrictions get you down. Do double duty while watering your lawn and take the opportunity to relive those childhood summers when you were stuck at home without a pool. If you can't wait till your designated watering day, just look around and you're sure to find a city sprinkler watering some random stretch of pavement. -- TM

82. Tar, baby. Step on hot tar. Wonder at "shiny things." -- NB

83. Beef it up. Hormones, antibiotics, mad cow disease, flatulence-inducing corn diets that deplete the world food supply, squalid corporate ranch living conditions where cows wallow in their own feces, etc. How many reasons do you need not to eat corporate beef raised in conditions worse than a concentration camp? Whether you dwell in the spell of the Atkins diet or you're just a fanatic for the barbecue, get your meat on this summer from Ranch Foods Direct, a local meatpacking operation run by Mike Callicrate that distributes scrumptious, range-fed beef in all variety of cuts and grinds. It's better for you and it's better for the world you and your offspring inhabit. Their packing facility and store is just south of Fillmore Street at 2901 N. El Paso St. Call 473-2306. -- NB

84. Bored? Shuffle! Not just for old people anymore, shuffleboard is open again this summer at Acacia Park (on Platte Avenue between Tejon Street and Nevada Avenue) from June 1 through Aug. 27, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. The cost is an astoundingly retro 25 cents per game! Call 385-6054. -- NB

85. Water floats your boat. Reportedly, the Arkansas River is quickly rising to its 30-year average. So head past Cañon City into the gorge or go out to Buena Vista or Salida, pick a roadside rafting company, and get ready to tumble. -- NB

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86. Let down your garden. Growing veggies at the Bear Creek Garden Club's plots in Bear Creek Park (Rio Grande, off of 21st Street) will save you months of psychotherapy. It's $75 for a 20-by-40-foot space, which yields a whole summer of fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables. You're the gardener, and while gardening is lots of work, if you like to play with dirt and water, consider renting space there. For more call 473-5827. -- JKG

87. Formerly a beach, life now reportedly "just a desert." Go lay out at the hole formerly known as Prospect Lake in Memorial Park. Don't forget your sunscreen, your fishing rod, your floaties and your imagination because you'll need it to picture any water in that desert bowl. -- CSB

88. Fly a kite for the love of Lord Byron. When's the last time you flew a kite? Rocket science it is not, my friend. But it goes great with a foppish picnic and a couple of stiff drinks. Stop off at Colorado Kite and Ski at 131 E. Bijou St. (633-6227) and pick up any number of fabric fliers. -- NB

89. Falls in love. Despite the paucity of natural, local swimming holes, Helen Hunt Falls in Cheyenne Cañon has the next best thing: one of the greatest spots to relax and stay cool in the greater Pikes Peak region for free. Grab a cushion or an exercise mat, some cold drinks and a snack, then head west on Cheyenne Road off of 21st Street. You'll run into the falls about three miles up the canyon. Find yourself a place in the shade near where the falls crash into the rocks below, roll out your mat and enjoy the mist. -- NB

Sean Cayton

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90. Craft macaroni and cheese. Come to the Holistic Arts & Crafts Fairs at Soda Springs Park, June 12 and 13 or Aug. 7 and 8, for hands-on, spiritually enriching artstuff. And just when you thought it was safe to relax, the Commonwheel Co-op's Arts & Crafts fair comes to Memorial Park Sept. 4, 5 and 6 (685-1008). -- JNN

91. Make some yummy homemade sangria. There is very little in the universe as blisteringly, ass-whompingly awesome as a chilly pitcher of sangria on a hot day. Just combine some cheap red or white wine with a bit of sugar or simple syrup, slices of fresh orange, lime, mango, kiwi or melon and some fresh fruit juice. Let that brew steep in the fridge a bit and add some club soda right before serving. To get really wacky, try adding some Apfelkorn or other apple or pear brandies to the mix. To get jungle juice, add vodka or grain alcohol. Then you simply sit back, puff your Indo and watch the bling roll in. -- AR

92. Ding-dong-ditch in the sweet summer evenings. Think of it as a comparatively victimless crime: Some friends, some darkness, some stealth and some neighborhood doorbells combine for some hilarity. Do it to the guy who lawlessly waters his lawn every day, then run like hell. -- AR

93. Celebrate Bastille Day with a French food picnic. Marie Antoinette wants you to eat cake, and here's your chance to oblige. Nothing says irony quite like a picnic in the park to commemorate July 14 (the beginning of the French Revolution 215 years ago). Earl Turnipseed from La Baguette (2417 W. Colorado Ave.) suggests bringing along "a baguette sandwich, a wedge of brie, a clump of grapes and a bottle of Perrier." It'll cost you about $9, but the impact on your bourgeois credibility is sure to be priceless. -- JK

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94. Watch the Summer Olympics. Something about the Olympics turns just about everybody into a sports fan. This summer, the Summer Olympics return to Greece for the first time since 1896, and for the approximately 650 American athletes who will compete in the games, the athletic intensity of international competition is sure to be infused with unprecedented patriotic spirit. The games, which run Aug. 13-29, will be broadcast on NBC. -- JK

95. Get checked for skin cancer and remember sun block. Become familiar with all your freckles, moles and beauty marks. Changes in quantity, size, shape and color can be warning signs of skin cancer. Plan ahead and apply and reapply sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect your face, ears, neck and eyes, and limit exposure to midday sun (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). If you notice any changes or irregularities on your skin, call your doctor. -- CSB

96. Turn your front yard into a Wiffle ball diamond. A good way to get rid of your lawn is to turn it into a miniature baseball diamond for Wiffle ball. Fake grass will be green year-round and you can form a neighborhood league with four people to a team. Sweet. -- NB

97. Order it hot. Take your love of coffee to the Raven's Nest Caf (330 N. Institute, 632-3433) for a lovely, quiet afternoon. Owner Paul and his family serve up delicious lattes and the best hot chocolate around. They even have a small collection of board games and cards, should you find a willing partner. -- KL

98. Into the frying pan. Run, hike, bike or ride a horse. The options are unlimited, but it's hot as hell out there. For the hardy, try the St. Mary's Trail in Cheyenne Cañon, which ends at some falls. On the way up, check out the Seven Bridges trail, which follows a meandering stream through a sheltering forest. -- WY

99. Hang your clothes out on the line, or hang a clothesline if you don't have one. Your clothes will smell so good, unless you live right off of Academy Boulevard. If you hang your linen while drinking, you can make all kinds of great "three sheets to the wind" puns. -- NB

100. When it's sunny, go see money. It really says something about Colorado Springs that, in an increasingly global economy dominated by capitalism, we would be home to the holiest of shrines devoted to the almighty buck, ducat, dime, dinar, yen, etc. If you're feeling strapped for it, or just wanna ogle it pay a visit to the American Numismatic Association Museum at 818 N. Cascade Ave. It's open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. It's free and you can call 632-2646 for more. -- NB

101. Painless swimsuit shopping. Head downtown or to the mall, park your car and stop first at your favorite restaurant or pub. After a couple of drinks, the swimsuits fit better, your flab shrinks, the florescent lights dim and the prices don't seem as high. Who needs a Miraclesuit when a glass of Merlot will do? -- GTS